"Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst"

In Kendrick Lamar's last album good kid, m.A.A.d city, he raps about hardships of growing up in the deadly area of Compton, California. Specifically as a teenager, he discusses how the drug-filled and violent neighborhood affected his upbringing. Kendrick is amazing at bringing you into the story he is telling. He also uses lyrics that bring a new meaning to what he is trying to get across. One specific song, "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" brings listeners through a story about the death of Kendrick's friend Dave and the sister of a woman named Keisha who got sucked into being a prostitute. The interesting part about the song is that it is told through the perspective of Dave's brother and Keisha's sister. Just like in poetry, the person writing the poem is not always the speaker. The rap begins with kendrick saying:

When the lights shut off and it's my turn to settle down,
My main concern,
Promise that you will sing about me,
Promise that you will sing about me,

He is describing how when he is gone he wants what he says to last and to be remembered.  He wants to be mentioned in other artists' music some day when he is no longer concerned about money or fame. As the song progresses, Kendrick raps from the perspective of Dave's brother and the trouble he faces after the death of his brother.

My plans rather vindictive,
Everybody's a victim in my eyes
When I ride, it's a murderous rhythm and outside became pitch black
A demon glued to my back whispering, "Get em"

These lines show how Dave's brother is struggling with the passing of Dave and his mentality that he does not care if he dies in the process of getting revenge. It also explains that he does not care who he kills, but somebody has to pay. This connects to the demon that is controlling him to kill someone. In the next passage, Kendrick tells the story of Keisha's sister who became a prostitute.

This is the life of another girl damaged by the system,
These foster homes, I run away and never do miss em'

Compton is a place that leaves children orphaned because many parents die of drug overdoses and gang related deaths. The orphaned children have no other path to follow besides becoming a gang members or prostitutes themselves. Kendrick explains this girl's story in order to show how the cycle of corrupted youth will continue to go on. He describes Dave's death as a quick one, while prostitution is slowly killing Keisha's sister. As Kendrick tells these stories, he jumps back to his current situation with the friends and family he has lost. He talks about his relationship with death and that he writes his music  because he wants the pain and suffering of those that he has known throughout his life to be represented. He wants his message to be passed on and to be remembered.

I count all the lives on these songs,
Look at the week and cry, pray one day, you'll be strong
Fighting for your rights even when your wrong
And hope that at least one of you sing about me when I'm gone.